Item 2: Ordinance on West Eugene Wetlands Burn Ban Exemption

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could consume, and reduces the smoke that is produced by controlled burns. However, once the woody plants are removed, fire plays a useful role by killing back any seedlings or stump sprouts that may emerge. Using heavy equipment to remove woody plants is an undesirable option in native prairie remnants, because the soil disturbance would damage existing vegetation and likely allow invasive non-native species to increase. Using manual labor to remove woody vegetation causes less damage to the existing herbaceous cover, but is generally more expensive. It may be possible to use tractor-mounted propane torches to achieve some of the ecological benefits of controlled burns in sites that are especially smoke-sensitive. However, the same problems with negotiating the divots, hummocks, and ant mounds mentioned above under mowing are pertinent here. 5. Summary and Conclusions The Willamette Valley has an interesting history of interactions between human populations and the natural landscape, of which fire was a significant component. Controlled ecological burning is viewed by scientists and land managers as an important tool for ensuring that this natural legacy is passed on to future generations. Some type of active management of these native prairie sites is necessary to maintain open habitat conditions and keep out woody plants, and fire is the most natural means to achieve these ends. Without controlled burning, we will find it to be both more difficult and more expensive to maintain remaining high quality native prairie sites. Although controlled burns may result in some localized, short term inconveniences to the public, our experience as land managers indicates that the overall benefits, both to the general public and to the natural habitats, outweigh the inconveniences involved. References Boyd, R. 1999. Strategies of indian burning in the Willamette Valley. In Boyd, R. (ed.) Indians, Fire and the Land in the Pacific Northwest. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis. Christy, J. A. and E. R. Alverson. In press. Historical vegetation of the Willamette Valley, Oregon, in the mid-1800s. Northwest Science 85: Douglas, D. 1959. Journal Kept by David Douglas During His Travels in North America 1823- 1827. Antiquarian Press, New York. Habeck, J.R. 1961. The original vegetation of the mid-Willamette Valley, Oregon. Northwest Science 35:65-77. Hansen, H. 1942. Pollen study of lake sediments in the lower Willamette Valley of western Oregon. Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 69:262-280. Jancaitis, J. E. 2001. Restoration of a Willamette Valley wet prairie: An evaluation of two d d 6